The British Asian Trust announced its three year partnership with
Developments in Literacy (DIL), Pakistan at the DIL Trust UK’s gala held at Claridge’s Hotel in Mayfair on 30 January 2010. Speaking at the event, Mr Manoj Badale, Chairman of The British Asian Trust, said “We are proud to be supporting an organisation such as DIL that is high-impact, has a track record of growth and is effectively helping Pakistan meet its future challenges.”
The British Asian Trust’s support to Developments in Literacy will enable the charity to upgrade the quality of education in its schools by improving the standard of training for over 600 rural teachers and capacity building of its programme staff. The Trust support comes at a time when DIL is at a crucial stage of its development and is looking forward to consolidate its activities on the ground.
Acknowledging the support by The British Asian Trust, Ahmereen Reza, Chairperson DIL Trust UK, thanked the Trust for their valuable contribution towards DIL’s effort as well as thanked Mr. Badale for such a unreserved endorsement of DIL’s work and its impact.
The event was the second gala and fundraiser organised by DIL Trust UK since its launch in 2007. The event was attended by prominent British Pakistanis, Pakistani professionals and businessmen residing in the United Kingdom including His Excellency Wajid Shamsul Hasan, Lord Hameed, former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shaukat Aziz, Hassan Askari, Ashraf Ali Hameedi, Dr. Saadia Quraishy, Asif Rangoonwala, Naveed Riaz, Dr. Mian Sharif, Tahir Wahid, Kashif Zafar, DIL Trust’s UK Patron Baroness Sandip Verma and Mrs. Pinky Lillani, OBE and advisory board member and former Pakistan’s High Commissioner to 
the UK, Dr. Maleeha Lodhi. Hitan Mehta and Rabia Nusrat from the Trust also attended the event.
The event was supported by Barclays Capital, Old Park Capital, Credit Suisse, Rangoonwala Trust, Habib Bank Ltd and United National Bank amongst others.
The event was a great success and over £170,000 was raised towards DIL Trust UK’s activities. These funds will enable them to meet its key goals for 2010, including vocational training efforts in Pakistan and Britain, expanding the charity’s teacher training efforts in Pakistan, and improving the curriculum for DIL Trust UK’s schools in Pakistan.
